The purpose of this data collection was to develop and test
an interactive model for classifying prisoners. The model includes
person variables, environmental or situation variables, and
prison-environmental interaction variables in order to study the
interactions between individuals and their environments and to predict
offender behaviors such as escape, misconduct, and violence. The model
was designed to enhance the predictive validity of the National
Institute of Corrections' classification system that was being used in
Vermont prisons. Included are scores from the National Institute of
Corrections' custody classification and reclassification instruments,
scores from a needs assessment, sentencing information, and
characteristics of the prison in which the inmate was housed.

The purpose of this data collection was to develop and test
an interactive model for classifying prisoners. The model includes
person variables, environmental or situation variables, and
prison-environmental interaction variables in order to study the
interactions between individuals and their environments and to predict
offender behaviors such as escape, misconduct, and violence. The model
was designed to enhance the predictive validity of the National
Institute of Corrections' classification system that was being used in
Vermont prisons. Included are scores from the National Institute of
Corrections' custody classification and reclassification instruments,
scores from a needs assessment, sentencing information, and
characteristics of the prison in which the inmate was housed.

Access Notes

The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public.
Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

The codebook for this collection is provided as a
Portable Document Format (PDF) file. The PDF file format was developed
by Adobe Systems Incorporated and can be accessed using PDF reader
software, such as the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Information on how to
obtain a copy of the Acrobat Reader is provided through the ICPSR
Website on the Internet.

Methodology

Sample:
The sample consists of 982 inmates incarcerated in Vermont
state correctional facilities who had at least 30 days to serve in
their sentences. Median age of the sample was 25 years with a range of
15 to 69 years. Males constituted 97.5 percent of the sample and had a
median minimum sentence of one year and a median maximum of three
years.

Data Source:

records of the Vermont State Department of Corrections

Version(s)

Original ICPSR Release: 1988-10-25

Version History:

2000-03-21 SAS and SPSS data definition statements and a PDF
codebook have been added to this collection.